Holy Cross CYO
Mission Statement
The Catholic Youth Organization is a parish-based program, which provides
opportunities for youth to grow in faith and understanding of their Church through
involvement in parish, regional, and archdiocesan life.
The Catholic Youth Organization’s five phase approach to youth ministry: athletic, social,
cultural, service and spiritual, is a model of youth ministry which involves youth from
elementary grades through high school in youth related activities and programs.
Through a total youth ministry concept, the Catholic Youth Organization collaborates
and/or cooperates on all of the youth-related programs offered by the Parish. The
emphasis of the Catholic Youth Organization is to enable and to empower youth to
become responsible participants in their faith community.
Holy Cross CYO Athletic Program
1. Approval for the CYO Athletic Program at Holy Cross has been granted by our Pastor.
2. Holy Cross Athletic program is a chartered member of the Archdiocesan Youth Ministry
Program.
Holy Cross is a member of Region 25 of the Archdiocesan youth Ministry Program.
3. Athletic programs sponsored by Holy Cross Catholic Youth Organization will at all times
reflect the CYO Mission Statement of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Holy Cross Parish.
4. The overriding motivation of the Holy Cross Athletic Program is the involvement of as many
students as possible in athletic competition within a Christian context. Through CYO sports,
students are provided with opportunities to grow in their faith through the guidance, direction
and coaching of adult Christian men and women; to form friendships; and to deal graciously
with both victory and defeat.
5. The following programs are currently offered:
Fall:
Flag football (Grades 1 thru 4) (Boys)
Football (Grades 5 thru 8) Junior Varsity & Varsity (Boys)
Cheerleading – Flag Squad (grades 1 thru 3), football season
JV & Varsity (Grades 3 thru 8), football season
Volleyball (Grades 5 thru 8) JV & Varsity (Girls)
Cross Country (Grades K thru 8) (Boys & Girls)
Winter:
Basketball (Grades 3 & 4) Intramural (Boys & Girls)
Basketball (Grades 5 thru 8) JV & Varsity (Boys and Girls)
Cheerleading - Competition (Grades 4 thru8)
High School Basketball (Grades 9 thru 12) (Boys & Girls)
Spring:
Baseball (Grades 5 thru 8) JV & Varsity (Boys)
Softball (Grades 5 thru 8) JV & Varsity (Girls)
Track – PeeWee Squad (Grades k thru4) (Boys & Girls)
Novice, Intermediate, Minor & Cadet (Grades 4 thru 8) (Boys & Girls)
High School Co-Ed Volleyball (Grades 9 thru 12)
6. Any parent who has a question or a problem with any coach must speak directly
to that
coach first. If the parent receives no satisfaction, then the parent should speak to the
Athletic Director. If the parent still isn’t satisfied with the outcome of the discussion with
the Athletic Director the parent should consult with the President of the CYO. The -priestis the final recourse. No other course of action will be taken for any questions or
complaints.
7. Uniform Requirements – as a participant in a specific program, each student will be issued
an official Holy Cross uniform. It is mandatory that the complete uniform issued to the
student be worn during all games and as directed by the coach. Failure to wear the
complete uniform will result in a students not being permitted to participate in a league
game. ALL UNIFORMS MUST BE RETURNED (UNLESS PURCHASED OUTRIGHT).
Holy Cross CYO Student Eligibility
The following guidelines apply to children in grades 1 through 8 and those attending High
School wishing to participate in a Holy Cross CYO or Parish sponsored athletic activity (i.e.,
Flag Football,). The overriding principles of the eligibility guidelines are: 1) is the child
receiving a Catholic religious education, and 2) is there a connection to Holy Cross Parish
beyond participation in the CYO or Parish sponsored activity?
A. PARISH SCHOOL STUDENTS:
1. Any student who attends Holy Cross School, has completed the
registration/medical form and has paid the appropriate fee(s) may participate with
their parish-school teams.
The CYO Board will determine the general registration fee and program fees
annually by the beginning of each fiscal year (July 1). A late fee will be assessed for
any registration fees received after August 31st (Fall Sports), October 31st (Winter
Sports) and February 28th (Spring Sports)
2. A boy or girl who attends a parish school other than their registered parish may
participate with their school team. However, once an individual establishes a
preference, he/she may not play for another parish for the remainder of the school
year. Example: a student may not play soccer of the school he/she attends and then
play basketball for the parish in which he/she is registered.
B. PUBLIC, PRIVATE NON-CATHOLIC & HOME SCHOOLED STUDENTS:
1. Any public private non-catholic or home schooled student who is a registered
member of the parish, is enrolled and attending CCD at Holy Cross, has completed
registration/medical form, and has paid the fee is eligible to participate with Holy
Cross teams (Note: students in 7th and 8th grade must have attended CCD through 6th
grade)
2. Candidates in the RCIA program are not eligible for CYO sports until they have
completed the program.
C. PRIVATE CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS
1. The rules for eligibility for private catholic school students are the same as Parts A
and B of the guidelines.
D. Children from St. Eugene’s BVM and Scared Heart parish wishing to participate in H/C
football are subject to the guidelines listed above.
E. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
1. All players are to be registered members of the Parish.
F. AGE & GRADE REQUIREMENTS
1. Students must meet the age and grade requirements established by CYO Central
for each sport.
G. PASSING GRADES
1. Students must maintain a passing grade in conduct
and academics in order to be
eligible to play CYO sports. Failure in these areas disqualifies the student from CYO sports for
that marking period. Parental support of this eligibility requirement is expected.
H. ELIGIBILITY
1. Questions regarding eligibility should be addressed to the CYO Athletic Director.
Catholic Youth Organization
Code of Conduct
1. Offensive Actions
No coach, player, or spectator is to:
a.
Refuse to abide by an official’s decision.
b.
Be guilty of objectionable demonstrations by throwing equipment or any other
forceful action.
c.
Be guilty of heaping personal verbal abuse upon any official for an imagined
wrong decision or judgment.
d.
Be guilty of an abusive verbal attack upon any player, opposing coach, official
or spectator.
e.
At any time lay hands upon, push, shove strike or threaten to strike an official,
coach, player or spectator.
f.
At any time engage in a physical attack upon any player.
2. Penalty for Offensive Actions
a.
Violation of Article “a-d” is a minimum automatic five game suspension for
CYO League and/or Playoff games.
b.
Violation of Article “e” by a player will result in the suspension of the offending
player for one full calendar year in that particular sport.
c.
Violation of Article “f” by a player will result in suspension for ten CYO league
and/or playoff games.
d.
Violation of Article “e” and “f” by a coach will result in the coach’s suspension
for one full year.
e.
If the suspended coach(es) or player(s) disregard stated penalties, when
properly notified by the Commissioner, the team is to be permanently
suspended from league competition for one full calendar year in that particular
sport.
A student who fails to comply with the CYO guidelines – either on the
Archdiocesan or local level or with a team regulation as determined by
his/her coach, will be held accountable for his/her actions and dealt with in
an appropriate manner.
Any student suspended from his/her school will lose eligibility in the CYO
for that length of suspension.
Any student expelled from his/her school will lose eligibility in the CYO
for the remainder of the school year that the expulsion occurs.
Holy Cross CYO
Classification of “A” and “B” teams
Important: All qualified students may try out for membership on our sports teams. This
parish is committed to providing everyone a fair chance to participate. Unfortunately, not
everyone who tries out can be accepted. The decision of the coach, in conjunction with the
athletic director, is final. Parents are encouraged to help their children understand that not
everyone will be selected.
“A” Teams: (Most Competitive)
This level of play is designed for the skilled athlete; therefore, a student must qualify for
this team. Player cuts are expected. Eligibility for this level of play is determined by a general
tryout(s) for either each grade level or grouping (e.g. 5-6 grades). Students must be
registered to participate in the sport before the start of the first tryout session for all sports
that will have “A” and “B” teams. The head coach for each sport along with his/her official
assistants conducts this tryout(s). Student performance is rated and then evaluated by the
head coach and his/her staff. From this data, the “A” team members are selected. H/C“A”
teams then compete with other region 25 “A” teams.
Playoff games begin on a regional level and then advance to the Archdiocesan level for
qualified teams. Due to the competitive nature of an “A’ league, coaches are not mandated to
guarantee playing time for each member during each game. Coaches at H/C, however, are
encouraged to play all players as much as possible.
“B” Teams: (Instructional)
This level of play is designed for the student in need of instruction and practice in the
basics of the sport. Each student should be given a fair and reasonably equitable amount of
playing time during the season. This time would vary for each sport. Playing time need not
be equal. Attendance and participation in practice, and overall attitude may affect a student’s
playing time as deemed appropriate by the coach. In order to have a “B” team, there must be
a sufficient number of players, coach(es) and available gym or field time.
At the present time, “B” leagues do not exist for the following sports offered by the CYO:
cheerleading, volleyball, cross-country, baseball, softball and track
Basketball (5th through 8th)
At the present time, “B” leagues exist for basketball at both levels (Varsity, JV) for
both boys and girls. We are committed to providing only one “B” team at each level for boys
and girls. Tryouts for each “B” team will be conducted concurrently with the tryouts for the
“A” team. To be considered for the “B” teams you must be registered for the sport prior to the
start of the first tryout session and attend the tryouts for the “A” team. Selections for the “B”
team will be made at the conclusion of the “A” team tryout, once the players for the “A” team
have been selected. Depending on the number of children who wish to play and available
resources, player cuts are expected. The individual coach in consultation with the parish
athletic director will determine rosters. A fifteen-player roster is the norm.
Baseball
We will be fielding one JV team and one Varsity team. Depending on the number of
children who wish to play and available resources, player cuts are expected. The head coach
of each team will conduct tryouts. The individual coach in consultation with the parish athletic
director will determine rosters. A fifteen-player roster is the norm.
Softball
We will be fielding one JV team and one Varsity team. Depending on the number of
children who wish to play and available resources, player cuts are expected. The head coach
of each team will conduct tryouts. The individual coach in consultation with the parish athletic
director will determine rosters. A fifteen-player roster is the norm.
Cheerleading
Football – We will be fielding one JV team and one Varsity team. There are no tryouts
for football cheerleading. Season runs from August through November. **Addition of a flag
squad to cheer at flag football games
Competition – We will be fielding one team composed of children from the 4 to 8th
grades. There will be tryouts with a 20 member team as the norm. Season runs from
October through Feb/March depending on competition schedule.